Have We Lost The Personal Touch?

My wife and I eat often at the Italian Cafe in Seabrook owned by Frank and Bessilyn Piazza. The food and service are great, but the restaurant shines because of the Piazzas themselves. Their bright smiles, convivial charm, and welcoming arms set the cafe apart.

Each time we enter the restaurant, the Piazzas remind us anew of the all-important lesson: people matter.

That seems to be the same message conveyed by Dr. Raymond Underwood of the Palm Beach Community Church. Underwood recently asked his Florida congregation to fast from Facebook. His rationale was different than the New Jersey pastor who believed that it promoted infidelity (namely his own). “We call these Facebook relationships friendships,” said Underwood, “but they really aren’t friends.”

“We really want people to focus on being all there being in the moment and that happens so much more face-to-face…When you meet face-to-face rather than the phone or facebook electronically, you see the total person. One of the themes of the fast is to be all there and that simply means whatever you are doing to be all there.”

Being “all there” seems to be growing more difficult these days. Texts, tweets, emails, quick phone calls and social networking sites create an illusion of connecting, but nothing can replace face-to-face encounters.

Whether it comes from a Palm Beach pastor or a Seabrook restaurateur, the message needs to be heard. People — not phone numbers, email addresses, Facebook pages, or photos — matter.